“So today he has no close friend here, nor any food except foul pus, which none but the sinners eat.”

“So today he has no close friend here”—that is, on the Day of Resurrection—“no close friend,” meaning no relative or friend to intercede for him so that he might escape Allah’s punishment or attain Allah’s reward: “No intercession with Him will avail except for one whom He permits.” “The wrongdoers will have neither a close friend nor an intercessor whose word will be heeded.”

Nor will he have any food except foul pus—the pus of the inhabitants of the Fire—which is intensely hot, foul-smelling, vile-tasting, and bitter. None will eat this loathsome food “but the sinners,” who strayed from the straight path and followed the paths to Hell (1). Thus, they deserved the painful punishment.